Last year I read Victoria Kincaids’s Christmas at Darcy House and absolutely loved it, so this year I’m very pleased to bring you an excerpt and an opportunity to win an audiobook copy of it.

Audiobooks have become my saviors on the commutes to work so I’m very passionate about them and this one is definitely a must, especially in this time of the year, so I would like to thank Victoria for visiting once more with such a special treat 🙂

I hope you’re as excited as I am about this new audiobook! Please don’t forget to comment to have a chance to win a copy, and if audiobooks are not your thing, you should not miss the ebook! I really recommend it 🙂

Hi Rita and thank you for having me back to visit! It’s always interesting to learn how they celebrated Christmas during the Regency time period. Some of the traditions are familiar to us, and some seem a little bizarre (anyone want to play a game with flaming, rum-soaked raisins?). The idea for Christmas at Darcy House had been knocking around in my head for a while. In the original P&P, Darcy leaves Netherfield in November and doesn’t see Elizabeth until Easter time. But I wondered what would happen if they encountered each other in London at Christmas—when Darcy was trying to forget her and keep Bingley away from Jane at the same time that Elizabeth was still enamored with Wickham.

Christmas at Darcy Housewas published last year, but this year I am celebrating the release of the audiobook, narrated by Julia Eve. Below is an excerpt I hope you enjoy!

Mr. Darcy hopes Christmastime will help him to forget the pair of fine eyes that he left behind in Hertfordshire. When Elizabeth Bennet appears unexpectedly in London, Darcy decides to keep his distance, resolved to withstand his attraction to her. But when he learns that Wickham is threatening to propose to Elizabeth, Darcy faces a crisis.

For her part, Elizabeth does not understand why the unpleasant master of Pemberley insists on dancing with her at the Christmas ball or how his eyes happen to seek her out so often. She enjoys Mr. Wickham’s company and is flattered when he makes her an offer of marriage. On the other hand, Mr. Darcy’s proposal is unexpected and unwelcome. But the more Elizabeth learns of Mr. Darcy, the more confused she becomes—as she prepares to make the most momentous decision of her life.

It’s a Yuletide season of love and passion as your favorite characters enjoy Christmas at Darcy House!

The knowledge that Elizabeth Bennet was in London had not allowed Darcy a moment’s rest that night. As he sat behind his desk that evening, he envisioned what she might be doing. Perhaps she was having dinner with her aunt and uncle. Now she might be sitting in the drawing room reading. Did they have children for her to play with? When would she retire for the night?

After brooding in his study until long after midnight, he had tossed and turned in his bed before falling into a fitful sleep in the early morning hours. A mere ten minutes in her presence, and he was in danger of becoming as obsessed with her as he ever was.

Upon awakening, his first thought was that he knew where Elizabeth stayed; he could call upon her and the Gardiners. Indeed, a visit was polite—nearly obligatory—given his acquaintance with her family. She had been gracious enough to call on the Bingleys despite knowing that she would receive a frosty welcome, but the Bingley sisters plainly would not return the call. If Darcy visited, at least Elizabeth would know that the entirety of the Netherfield party did not hold her in such low esteem. Also, she might have been brought low by the Bingley sisters’ insults; it was only right that Darcy visit and ensure that she was in good spirits.

Given new life by these thoughts, Darcy sprang from bed and addressed himself to his toilette with dispatch. In the midst of splashing water on his face, he had a new thought. If I visit the Gardiners’ house alone, will I appear to be courting Elizabeth? He had taken great pains in Hertfordshire to avoid the appearance of favoring her; he did not want to give rise to expectations he could not fulfill.

And yet his own reaction surprised him. The idea of creating such an expectation should fill him with dread, but instead a thrumming excitement surged through his veins. Suddenly light-headed, Darcy grabbed the edge of the washstand. Was there some part of him that wished Elizabeth to believe he was courting her? Or worse yet, wished to court her?

Darcy regarded his own rather pale face in the mirror. What could he do?

He pried his gaze from the mirror and stumbled to the closet in search of fresh clothing. I am being foolish. He was simply returning a social call for the sake of politeness. Elizabeth would understand that he only visited because of his connection with her family. He might happen to enjoy Elizabeth’s company…quite a bit…more than any other woman he had ever encountered…

But that was beside the point. His object was to help her feel welcome in London.

As his valet entered the room, Darcy thrust such thoughts from his mind. Within minutes he was dressed and downstairs breaking his fast. Another half an hour saw him driving his curricle toward Gracechurch Street. The curricle was a bit of an indulgence; it would have been simpler to take a horse. But he had a vision of offering Elizabeth a chance to tour some of his favorite sights in London. It was a ridiculous thought, yet Darcy found he could not dismiss it from his mind.

Guiding the curricle through the streets of London, he even found himself humming a tune that Georgiana had played the day before. It was pleasant to have one of his Hertfordshire acquaintances in London. There was nothing remarkable if the anticipation of her company pleased him.

The Gardiners’ home was not large, but it was well kept and more fashionable than Darcy had expected. He had never ventured into Cheapside before and had been prepared for far less genteel surroundings. This appeared to be a quite respectable neighborhood.

Darcy was still humming as he approached the Gardiners’ door and knocked. Perhaps he should have purchased flowers. Women liked flowers, did they not? But flowers might suggest he was courting her, which he most definitely was not. They were simply friends.

A maid answered the door and took his coat. Darcy gave his card and inquired if Miss Bennet and Mrs. Gardiner were at home. The maid replied that they were in the drawing room with a male visitor whose name she had not caught.

Darcy’s interest was immediately piqued. He could not imagine Elizabeth had a large circle of acquaintances in London. Could she have acquired a suitor already? But the maid had not mentioned the age of the visitor. He might just as easily be some friend of her father’s or a business acquaintance of her uncle’s. Darcy frowned at the thought. A widower of that age might prefer a younger wife.

Or perhaps it was Bingley, visiting to apologize for his sisters’ behavior the previous day. Yes, Bingley would be quite acceptable.

Darcy followed the maid down the narrow hallway to the drawing room. She opened the door and announced, “Mr. Darcy, ma’am,” before withdrawing and allowing Darcy to enter the room.

His eyes immediately fell upon the male visitor, and he realized he had been far from imagining the worst.

Wickham.

.

Victoria Kincaid would like to offer one audiobook copy of Christmas at Darcy House to one of my readers, the giveaway is international will end on the 20th of December. Winners will be announced shortly after that 🙂

To enter the giveaway all you have to do is comment on this post and share your thoughts on this book or the audible experience with us.

Please do not forget to check the blog to confirm if you were the winner 🙂

Okay, this is off topic but a) I don’t happen to have the auditory attention span for audio books, though my friends swear by them, but b) I just bought this book in a set called “Christmas at Darcy House/ A Very Darcy Christmas Double Feature: Two full-length Pride and Prejudice Variations in one Set” (Kindle version) for little more than the price of either individual novella. You cannot beat Victoria Kincaid P&P Regency stories, so I have indulged myself.

I loved this book, poor deluded Darcy- of course he isn’t courting her, of course they are just friends! I think it’s definitely a Christmas re read!
Please don’t enter me in the giveaway as I don’t do audio books but I enjoyed the excerpt, thank you.

I love audio books. I listen when gardening (not in winter :)), commuting, doing housework. I love reading books but having a book read to me is a real treat. Thank you for the excerpt and the generous give away.

I like to see Mr Darcy so unsure of himself and what he should do and gone to so much trouble to make Elizabeth feel welcome in London. But then Wickham came along and now he has to compete for her affections. Can’t wait to see what happens next.